Pharmacy Technician Employment & Salary Trends, and Career Opportunities in West Virginia

Overview

West Virginia is home to more than 3,000 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, less than one percent of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians reside in The Mountain State. However, West Virginia has a lot to offer from excellent medical facilities to impressive employment and salary growth. Aspiring pharmacy technicians choose West Virginia for:

• The opportunity to work at renowned facilities such as Charleston Area Medical Center, West Virginia University Hospitals, and Mon General Hospital  (all high performing in multiple specialties)
• Access to more than 35 other excellent hospitals and dozens of other medical facilities
• Access to dozens of nationally ranked health care and pharmacy technician training programs
• Employment: West Virginia has the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians

Employment and Salary Trends for West Virginia Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), West Virginia is home to 3,160 salaried pharmacy technicians, averaging around $24,830 per year. In 2006, they averaged $22,200. This means, salaries have increased by $438 each year between 2006 and today. As stated, West Virginia is number one on the list of states with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians, and three West Virginia metropolitan areas are on the top ten list of metro areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients. They are:

#2 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
Employment: 620
Salary: $27,040 per year

#6 Cumberland, MD-WV
Employment: 200
Salary: $27,660 per year

#9 Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV
Employment: 200
Salary: $24,030 per year

In addition, the Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area is number five on the list of nonmetro areas with the highest employment for pharmacy technicians and number two on the list of nonmetro areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians. Across the nation, pharmacy technicians average around $28,400 per year. The top ten percent earn $41,880 per year, and the bottom ten percent average $20,310 per year.

In addition to salary growth, aspiring West Virginia pharmacy technicians can expect a promising amount of employment growth in the coming years. In 2006, the state was home to 2,160 pharmacy technicians, so the industry here added a promising 1,000 new jobs between 2006 and today. Overall, the pharmacy technician industry will experience incredible employment growth between now and 2020. The industry expects to add 108,300 new jobs, so employment is expected to grow by an impressive 32 percent.

Pharmacy Technician Career Opportunities in West Virginia

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a sizable list of employment options for aspiring pharmacy technicians. While large chain pharmacies and hospitals are the most popular options, pharmacy techs also work at computer systems design firms, scientific and technical consulting services, government departments, outpatient care centers, rehabilitation centers, clinics, elderly care facilities, grocery stores, department stores, electronic shopping and mail-order houses, and academic institutions.

The state of West Virginia is home to many organizations and businesses in these areas, but pharmacies still dominate the scene here. Some of the most recognized pharmacies in West Virginia include:

• CVS Pharmacy
• Fruth Pharmacy
• Kmart Pharmacy
• Kroger Pharmacy
• Medicine Cabinet Pharmacy
• Rite Aid
• Sam’s Club Pharmacy
• Target
• Walgreens
• Walmart

Some of West Virginia’s largest hospitals/hospital systems include:

• Cabell Huntington Hospital
• Charleston Area Medical Center
• Grant Memorial Hospital
• Hampshire Memorial Hospital
• HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospitals
• Jackson General Hospital
• Jefferson Memorial Hospital
• Mon General Hospital 
• St. Mary’s Medical Center
• West Virginia University Hospitals
• William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: